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The 



History of Penet Square 



AND HEREIN A 



Brief Sketch of the Life, Characfter 
and Operations of Peter Penet. 



An address delivered on the occasion of 
the observance of the Centennial of 
Jefferson County, New York, at Water- 
town, N. Y., on June 22, 1905, 



By IRVIN W. NEAR, 

HORNELL, N. Y. 



W. H. GREENHOW. PRINTER, 

HORNELL, N, Y, 

Publisher Daily and Evenine Tribune. 

1906. 



The 

History of Penet Square 



AND HEREIN A 



Brief Sketch of the Life, Character 
and Operations of Peter Penet. 



An address delivered On the occasion of 
the observance of the Centennial of 
Jefferson County, New York, at Water- 
town, N. Y., on June 22, 1905, 



By IRVIN W. NEAR, 

HORNELL, N. Y. 



W. H. GREENHOW, PRINTER, 

HORNELL, N. Y. 

Publisher Daily and Evening Tribune. 

19 6. 



o 



. Gift 

Author 
(Person) 



History of Penet Square 

And Herein a Brief Sketcli of the Life, Characteristics 
and Operations of Peter Penet. 

MR. CHAIRMAN: 

The subject you bid me discourse, relates to a territory larger than 
(he oldest republic in the world, larger than either Athens or Rome in 
the days of their greatest lower; and of the same size as the original 
District of Columbia: a territory given as a gratuity or a benificence to 
a person who lived by liis wits rather than by any service of real value; 
then a trackless, wilderness, now a land teeming with productive farms, 
thriving towns and attractive homes of a prosperous and intelligent 
people. 

A line extending dms west from Split Rock — a sunless and reputed 
bottomless chasm — in the town of Westport, Essex County, on the west 
shore of Lake Champlain, terminates at the confluence of French 
Creek— the Weteringhraguentere of the aboriginal occupants — with 
the River St. Lawrence, in the town of Clayton, Jefferson County, 
formed the norther boundary of the territory of that powerful league 
of Indians, who dominated and controlled most of the country between 
the Mississippi and the Atlantic, known as the Iroquois, and also the 
southern limit of the land of the Algonquins, an aggresive and warlike 
nation who mostly inhabited and dominated the whole country to the 
north, always at war with their superior southern neighbors. 

Long before the advent of the white man into the state of New York, 
fortified places had been built by the Algonquins at either end of the 
division line, notably at the western terminous where it intersects the 
river then known and called Cataraquy or Iroquois, now the St. Law- 
rence; early Jesuit Relations have a misty account of deserters from 
the French with Jacques Cartier at Montreal, joined the Algonquins, 
participated in their M'ars against the Iroquois, taught them to build 
forts at either end and along the before mentioned division line; there 
is some probability for this tradition, because each terminal is on the 
same parallel of latitude, to ascertain this required knowledge the 
Indians did not possess, It is fair to suppose the French renegades did. 
This was contemporaneous with the origin of the confederacy of the 
Iroquois, by the mysterious Hiawatha. The Oneida Indians, one of the 
constituent nations of the Iroquois, whose domain was invaded, resisted 
this invasion of their territory, attacked the western outpost, and after 



a desperate battle, lasting a number of days, drove out the Invaders, 
destroyed the work, and occupied the country farther east; from this 
time the place was known as Weteringhraguentre — the place of the 
destroyed fallen fort. The eastern termination of this line is the loca- 
tion of the naval engagement between the Americans under the com- 
mand of General Benedict Arnold, and the English under Sir Guy Caii- 
ton, in October, 177G, by which the British plan of the invasion of the 
colonies ])y way of Lake Champlain was frustrated, but again under- 
taken by Burgoyne the next year with disastrous results at Saratoga. 

From the place of the "Fallen Fort", the territory of the Oneidas 
extended south, to a point on Wood Creek, the outlet of Oneida Lake, 
and from thence, to and along the "property line," to the Delaware 
branch of the Mohawk — the Delaware River. 

For the services rendered to the Oneidas by Peter Penet, and as a 
benevolence to him from them, the Oneidas gave to the same Peter 
Penet, a tract of land, ten miles square, lying to the northward of the 
Oneida Lake, wherever he shall elect and locate the same; and by the 
subsequent treaty of cession made by these Indians, at Fort Stanwix, 
in 1788, this reservation was made, and a grant therefor provided. 

Who was this Peter Penet? He was an adventurer, a speculator, a 
promotor with a Iceen look-out for the main chance, unscrupulous in 
conduct, of small, if any. financial ability; of great personal energy 
and inordinate vanity, withal a great liar and a graceless rascal. 

Penet was a merchant in Nantes. France. He first came to this country 
December 10, 1775, landed at Providence, R. I., on a vessel sailed by 
Capt. Rhodes, who had been sent to the West Indies for powder; 
Penet was then in Hayti, and with a fellow traveler, one DePlaine, 
came from Cape Francois, bearing letters and credentials of character, 
and proposed to undertake to supply arms and munitions of war to the 
colonies or to congress, thiough his alleged business connections 
in France. Governor Clark, of Rhode Island, received him favorably, 
and gave him a letter of introduction to General Washington, then at 
Cambridge, Mass. He immediately went to headquarters, and was 
very courteously received by Washington, who with great care and 
caution referred him to Congress, without committing himself to any 
endorsement of his proposals. However, his reception by the General 
was quite flattering; he was sent at public expense to confer with 
Congress, then in session in Philadelphia. Washington also gave him 
letters to Governor Trumbull, of Connecticut, requesting carriages be 
provided for conveying him to his destinaton. Governor Trumbull 
examined his proposals, and added his own approval. He left New 
Haven on December 24, 1775. Upon arriving at Philadelphia, sought 
and obtained upon the letters of recommendations he bore, a hearing 
before Congress, who appi'oved his plans and proposals, and by its 
resolutions, the secret committee executed a contract with him, under 
the name of Penet & Company, for the supply of a large amount of 
arms, ammunition and military stores from France. 



'He made like proposals to the Commttees of Safety of the Colonies 
of New York and Virginia. He contracted and agreed to furnish to 
Virginia twelve G pound cannon. 

Having completed his arrangements. Penet left America in March, 
1776, in a vessel hired on purpose for sending him and other French 
adventurers to France. He was intrusted with letters to our agents 
abroad, coming direct from the field of action, that was then exciting 
great interest through all Europe, was able to give detailed information 
of great value to the colonies. But except his contracts, he returned 
empty handed; it reqnired skill and diplomacy of no mean ability to 
meet the emergencies that arose in attempting to fulfill his contracts. 
M. Dubourg, writing to Dr. Franklin in June, 177G, says: "Mr .Penet. 
appears a faithful, active, intelligent man, and very much the con- 
noisseur in arms of every kind, but I have been led to think that your 
committee not knowing him sufficiently to trust with large pecuniary 
funds would only engage to repay amply his advances, and he is not 
in a position to do great things in that way, however good his disposi- 
tion is therefor. This is what retards all his operations which might 
have been much accelerated if you had somebody here duly authorized 
to make bargains and to pass engagements in the name of the thirteen 
United Colonies, on terms which would be readily owned agreeable." 

He was first received with the caution due a stranger in a delicate 
negotiation, when the actions, sympathies and intentions of the French 
government, were yet concealed under an assumed reserve; though M. 
Dubourg assured him of the favorable wishes of the court and nation 
in behalf of the colonies. Dubourg was convinced by the intelligence, 
manners and actions of Penet, that he could confide in him, and upon 
his judgment Penet was called from Nantes to be secretly presented 
to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for consultation upon the condition, 
resources and prospects of the Colonies. Through this event he man- 
aged to procure and forward a considerable amount of arms and muni- 
tions under his contract. 

Penet, thereupon, and on August ;J, 1770, wrote Washington: "1 
assure you of the success of my operations in France. You need not 
fear the want of ammunition. I have found means to furnish your 
armies and to provide for your garrisons." In the same letter he im- 
plored Washington to appoint him his first aid-de-camp, and that he 
would permit him to wear the uniform, ribbon and decoration of that 
position. He also presented his respects to Madame Washington. On 
October 7, Washington addressed the President of Congress, endorsing 
this letter, asking leave to grant the request, which was on the eleventh 
of that month done by a resolution appointing Peter Penet, an Aide-de- 
Camp by brevet. At this time it does not seem possible that Washing- 
ton and the Continental Congress could be induced to comply with the 
request of this wily, insinuating adventurer. Later on it will be seen 
that there were other victims of his cunning pretensions. 

Afterwards the Commissioners of the Colonies in France, became 



satisfied that Penet could not advantageously perform his contract, 
On June 17, 1777, they wrote the Secret Committee: "We think it ad- 
visable that you should so far be on your guard with respect to M. 
Penet, as not to deviate from the original contract made with him; we 
cannot learn that he is a person of substance, but he appears to be 
active, industrious and attentive to your interests. He is connected 
with the house of M. Gruiel, in Nantes. We do not know the terms of 
his connection, or how far M. Gruiel is answerable. It seems to us 
that those houses that are connected with Great Britain are to be 
avoided." On February 11, 1777, Arthur Lee wrote to the Secret Com- 
mittee of Congress: "Penet has not such recommendations or sub- 
stance as he could wish; they are of a low order." 

About two years later M. Penet petitioned Congress for its encourage- 
ment in the establishment of an armory to manufacture fire-arms, side- 
arms and other army equipments. On January 2, 1779, the committee 
to whom this petition had been referred, made a favorable report. 
They proposed to contract for 100,000 muskets and bayonets at 201/2 
liveres each, of which one-fifth were to be delivered in two years and 
the balance in six and seven years. The arrangement was never car- 
ried out because of the inability of Penet to meet his part of the 
engagement. 

Pennsylvania gave him an order for arms, munitions and standards 
for the use of her troops, and for a seal with the state arms engraved 
thereon. In a letter dated at Nantes, May 20, 1780, apologizing for his 
delay in filling the order, and explaining the cause, which had no real 
foimdation, he solicits the apopintment of State Agent for that State. 
This was not granted, nor was his undertaking ever completed. 

Penet is next found operating on the confidence of the Governors of 
New York and Pennsylvania, by offering for sale some — as he asserted 
— -new and valuable discoveries in explosives, and also a cheap metal 
for sheathing ships, and a preparation or varnish to preserve iron from 
rust. His attempts were abortive. 

Soon after, Penet was employed by the State of Virginia to borrow 
money in France. No record or statement can be found of his success 
in this employment. On December 14, 1782, Dr. Franklin wrote: 
"Penet, who is employed by Virginia to borrow money here, is broke 
and absconded; his creditors are all worrying me with their complaints, 
I have nothing to do with his affairs. We have put faith in every ad- 
venturer who pretended to have influence here, and who, when he ar- 
rived, had none but what your appointment gave him." 

The next we find of this fellow, is in 1783, when his name appears in 
the Albany County Clerk's office, as a purchaser of a lot of land in 
Schenectady for £1,050, being a dwelling and store. In 1787, he ap- 
pears as a trader with the Oneidas in their village near Oneida Lake, 
among these people he acquired a great ascendency; he pretended to 
them, that because of their adherence to the cause of the Colonies 
during the Revolution, alone of all the confederacy of the Iroquois, 



that the United States would richly reward them for their loyalty, and 
that he was commissioned to provide for this. In the most extravagant 
language, Penet pretended to these Indians to be a representative of 
the King of France, who admired their loyalty to his ally, and would 
make them all valuable presents therefor; and that he and the Marquis 
De LaFayette, were commissioned by the French king to distribute 
these gifts. He established a code of laws for their government, in 
which, in all of their disputes he was to be the final arbitrator. He 
largely assisted in fixing the boundary between their lands and the 
Mohawks- — the new "property line." So great was the confidence of 
the Oneldas in Penet, that the Commissioners of the State of New 
York to determine the territorial claims of the Oneidas found it both 
convenient and expedient to consult Penet, and ask his aid and advice 
to determine the territorial claims of the Oneidas in the treaty on 
Se!)tember 12, 1788, at Fort Stanwix, and solicited his aid 
in promoting the measures there accomplished. Penet was one 
of the witnesses to the treaty with the Onondagas, signed 
at the same time. At this time and place the Commission- 
ers held a treaty with the Oneidas, whose claims upon the 
favor of the state was much stronger on account of their services dur- 
ing the late war, than any other of the five nations; Penet impressed 
upon these Indians that such favor came through his influence with 
the representatives of the State; upon this occasion, the Oneida orator 
said to the Commissioners, whatever communication we shall make 
here, must be made for us by Good Peter, the French Gentleman — 
pointing to Penet — he is our father, and we request you will make him 
the channel of your communication of whatever you have to say to us; 
he is a just and righteous man, he will deceive us in nothing, but will 
deliver to us the very truth. Had it not been for him we should have 
been ruined; because of this confidence and a desire to reward Penet 
for his kindnesses and services, the Oneida Treaty of September 22, 
1788, was made to embrace the following stipulation and declaration: 
"And further, that the People of the State of New York, shall, as a 
beneficence and benevolence from the Oneidas to Peter Penet, and in 
return for services rendered by him to this nation, grant to the said 
Peter Penet, of the said ceded lands lying to the northwest of Oneida 
Lake, a ti^ct ten miles square, wherever he shall elect the same." sub- 
sequently the interest of Penet in the interests of the Oneidas was not 
so manifest. These people became divided in their adherence to and 
belief in Penet; the sachems and many of the warriors were with 
Penet, while the chiefs, some of the warriors and many of the women 
were opposed; in consequence a fierce contention waged; Penet was 
supported by Col. Louis Cook, a St. Regis Indian, who assisted the 
Colonies in the Revolution, he served with the Americans in the war of 
1812-1815; he died at the Buffalo Creek Reservation, soon after, leaving 
an intelligent and reliable family of sons and daughters, from whom a 
considerable amount of the recitals herein, is derived. Rev. Samuel 

7 



Kirkland exploded the pretentions of Penet, he left quite a voluminous 
narrative of the operations of the wily Frenchman. To appease the 
wrath of his opponents, Penet went to New York, as he told them, to 
receive and bring back the promised presents from the King of France; 
the Indians anxiously awaited his return, but he never came back. His 
deluded friends remained faithful to him, fierce contentions arose be- 
tween his adherents and opponents, which long continued, existing at 
this day. 

The plan of government of the Oneidas, by Penet, is still shown, it is 
an interesting and curious production. Given at the Great House of 
Scanondoe, October 25, 178S; and of our New Government, the First} ii 
recites, "The Honourable Peter Penet, Esquire, our true and trusted 
friend, adopted and chosen advisor and agent forever, to act for us 
and for the good and happiness of our nation, and these articles are 
executed solemnly in his presence." These articles wer« signed and 
sealed by twenty-eight Oneidas, four of whom were females, in the 
presence of P. Penet, Edward .Johnston, interpreter, P. Chevalier Goye^, 
James Baudron, Vaumane de Fonclaire, J. F. LeBon, Colonel Louis 
Cook, Margaritte Guarinda, Lathani Rottgienher. Two men mentioned 
in the second article of the instrument to transact the national busi- 
ness, when approved by Penet, are Col. Louis Cook and Peter Otsi- 
quette, who signed the articles as one of the Chiefs of the Oneida 
Nation; he is supposed to be the "Good Peter" who so carefully looked 
after Penefs interests at and before the treaty of Fort Stanwix, for the 
ten mile square tract. Before his departure for New York, as he told the 
Indians, for the King's presents, Penet carefully examined the locality 
where he would elect to locate his domain, and shrewdly decided that 
as much as possible of it should adjoin the River St. Lawrence, because 
transportation of the productions of his tract would be more available, 
than from any other channel known to him, and left directions for the 
execution of his wishes. In making this selection he was accompaniea 
by the Louis Cook, before mentioned, who by reason of his former life 
among the St. Regis tribe, was acquainted with all the country contig- 
uous to the St. Lawrence. In 1793, Skenandoe, a venerable Oneida 
Chief, then being above eighty years old, informed some French agents 
sent out to examine this tract, and investigate Penet's claims, that this 
tract was the best located land in the Oneida country, that it was I'-n 
miles square, had been given to Penet for his services and magnificent 
promises of great trade with France and America, but that he had rin: 
away from the country, without paying his debts or keeping his pro- 
mises, that he was a great liar, and had sold the land for ten cents an 
acre. 

Penet, by an instrument in writing, dated January 23, 1789, mado 
John Duncan, of Schenectady, N. Y., his attorney for the purpose of 
locating this tract, as selected, apply for, and receive a survey and 
patent therefor, from the state, in pursuance of the Oneida treaty of 
cession, and to sell and dispose of such parts, for such sums as he could 

. S 



get. Immediately thereafter Penet sailed for France, with the pur- 
pose of fixing some scheme by which he might realize from the resu'ts 
of his impositions upon the Indians; it is not known that his scheme:; 
materialized. He never returned to this country. He died in France 
before the close of that year, without wife or children. 

Pursuant to the application of .John Duncan as the attorney for Penet. 
to the Commissioners of the Land Office of this State, for the locatioi. 
and survey of the Penet land, the Surveyor General made the follow- 
ing: "Pursuant to a resolution of the Commissioners of the Land 
Office, dated the eighth day of August. 17S9, I have laid out for Peter 
Penet, of the lands ceded by the Oneida Nation of Indians to the Peo- 
ple of the State of New York, by their deed of cession, dated the 
twenty-second day of September, 1788, lying to the northward of the 
Oneida Lake, a tract of ten miles square, as elected by .John Duiicnu, 
agent for the said Peter Penet: Beginning on the southeast side o*' the 
River St. Lawrence, at the mouth of a creek, called by the Indians 
VVeteringhraguentere. said to be about twelve miles below an isl.vnd 
in the said river, called Carleton or Bucks Island, which place of begin 
ning is the northwest corner of the lands claimed by the said Oneida 
Nation, and ceded as aforesaid, and running thence east eight hund- 
red chains, then $ofjiiii eight hundred chains, then west eight hiudied 
chains, thenl^oyth eight hundred chains, to the place of beginning ron- 
taining sixty-four thousand acres. 

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the eighteenth a^y 
of November. 1789. 

SIMEON DE WITT,, 

Surveyor General. 

The foregoing described lands were conveyed to Peter Penet, by the 
People of the State of New York, by a patent, dated November 19, 1789. 
by George Clinton, Governor. Examined, approved and confirmed by 
iRobert Harper, Dep. Secy, November 19, 1789. 

The said patent reserved to the grantor, all gold and silver mines, 
and five acres of every hundred acres, for highways; and was made up- 
on the condition, that within seven years from .January first, 1799, there 
shall be one actual settler for every six hundred and forty acres of land. 

This Patent was recorded in the oflftce of the Secretary of State in 
Book: of Patents 21, on Page 407. 

On July 13, 1790, John Duncan as the attorney for Penet sold the 
whole square to James Watson and James Greenleaf for the sum of five 
shillings: February IG, 1795, Watson sold his interest to Greenleaf. for 
£1,00(); Septembe' 4, 1797, Greenleaf sold to Simeon Desjardines, for 
£19,400. 

The belief was widely disseminated that Penet died before the con- 
veyance by Duncan as his attorney to Watson and Greenleaf, the power 
of Duncan had ceased with the death of Penet, he could give no title, 
and Penet being an alien the title to this whole tract had escheated to 
the state, that it was anybody's land who first got possession, a wild 

9 



rush for land from all parts of this and adjoining states and from Can- 
ada, resulted, they had a law among themselves, holding by right, ot 
discovery or first occupation, ran possession lines by loping down bush- 
es and small trees; these titles or claims were often sold or transferred 
by quit-claim deeds and contracts, some of which ars still kept as rel- 
ics and curiosities. Frequently these lines of claims were cut into, 
crossed, the land appropriated in whole or in part, by the loped bushes 
of a greedy and lawless rival, to settle the contention the trial by bat- 
tle, as introduced in early England, by William the Conqueror, was re- 
sorted to, too determine who was the best man or had the superior tit- 
le, these squatters had no idea of the cultivation of the land, as farm- 
ers they only wanted to fall the timber, convert it into staves, or burn 
it, and from the ashes make black-salts and pot-ash. This improvi- 
dent waste of timber and the slovenly clearings made by this lawless set 
promised but little in the way of civilization; their appearance as they 
emerged from the swamps and hills, with an ox harnessed to a travois. 
laden with a trough of black-salts, pot-ash or staves, destined for the 
place of export, the mouth of French Creek, and thence to be smuggled 
to Canadian markets, as Penet had calculated and their return in like 
manner, with their product exchanged for a sack of meal, a chunk of 
pork and a jug of whiskey, was little calculated to i>ispire confidence 
in this tract as a place tor a permanent home. 

About two-fifths of Penet Squai'e is now in the town of Claytoa. ex- 
cept a small corner embracing Perch Lake, in the town of Pamelia, th<? 
balance is in the town of Orleans. The first settlement on this square 
was made at the mouth of French Creek, about 1795, by adventurers 
trom the older sections of this state, from New England, from Canada, 
by Oneida, St. Regis and Mohawk half breeds, as a place of refuge and 
hiding, their principal occupation was hunting, fishing, smuggling 
and other illicit business between and in Canada and the United States 
Other settlements were made in the town of Clayton at Catfish Falls, 
now DePauville, from 1800 to 1803; in the town of Orleans, in 180ij, 
north of the present village of Stone Mills, at Moulton's-later Rixford's 
Corners, and at Log Mills-now LaFargeville, the largest village on thi.s 
territory, here. Dr. Reuben Andrus was the first physician his treatment 
was mild, his remedies simple, his pharmacopoeia not elaborate; bread 
pills were his favorite prescription for all ailments, with satisfactory 
results ; on one occasion the doctor made a quantity of his panacea, put 
it cut in tlie sunshine to oiy, a, ^cc&ttr nmning at lafl'ge, ate the Pills, 
flew to the roof of the shanty.flapped his wings strenuously crew more 
defiantly than ever-an omen followed by future Americians. Maj. Ai 
vah Goodman was the first bonilace, Esquire Lemuel Gearge was an 
tarly store-keeper. Reverend and revered ""Josey" Williams, a faith- 
fui disciple of John Wesley, may well be termed the earliest vidette of 
his Master on this Square he labored with all of the zeal and impulsive- 
ness of a Burchard or a Finney, without their pyrotechnic exhortations, 
iie was often called the "Arch-Bishop of Penet." 

10 



■In 18()S a road was cut throiisli from the mouth of French Creek to 
I he Hiiih Falls, because of the restrictive and for this region, almosc 
(itstiuctive provisions of the Embargo Act of Congress, of the year be- 
fore, was called the "Embargo Road"; this afforded transportation for 
the black-salts, pot-ash and staves of this tract and adjacent territory 
to the mouth of French Creek, and then to the Canadian markets, these 

people had to resort to this illicit method, though running great risk of 
arrest, confiscation and imprisonment, or starvation. This business 
was cariitd en with varying success, unttil the breaking out of the war 
of 1812, during which other ocupations were resorted to. The principal 
event of that war in this territory was the renderzvouing of a portion 
of the army composing the (Jisastrous expedition of Wilkinson, again.st 
Canada, in French Creek Bay. In passing, it may be noted that the ex- 
pedition of Sir .Jeffry Amherst in ITGO against LaPresentatien-now Og- 
densburg, and the strong Fort Levis, on Isle Royale now called Chim- 
ney Islands, and by the Indians, 0-ra-co-naii-ton, the last military post 
of the French in i\(nth America, was flirected to assemble in this Bay, 
a portion of the command lost its way, went down the Canadian chan- 
nel and were wrecked and lost in the swift water between Gananoqu>> 
and Mallorytown, and known to tourists through the Tlu>usand Islands, 
as the "Lost Channel." 

After the close of the war of 1812-15, a cloud of pretended claimants, 

•caniie on to this Square, all pretending to hold title to the whole or a 
part of this tract, but who in reality had less title than the occupants, 
after much assertion, threats and bluster, they either left in disgust, 
or were run out by the occupants on a smooth pole. Among the most 
serious of these claimants was that of Hypolite Penet, of Delaware 
County, this State, a brother of Peter Penet. He claimed to inherit the 
property as the heir and next of kin of his brother; his claim was 
weakened if not disipated by the fact he conveyed the whole tract to 
Tonelier of Schenectady for one dollar. From 1817 to 1823, by many 
prolix and bewildering conveyances this tract came to John LaFarge, 
a vivacious, unique and doughty Frenchman, of quick business instincts, 
well educated and very crafty, an appropriate successor of Penet. He 
was connected with a mercantile house of Havre, France, doing an 
extensive business with the West Indies and the United States; he 
became advised of the operations of Penet, his sudden death, without 
disposin.g of his holdings In the Oneida country, he became the nominal 
owner of the heir of Penet before mentioned. This gave him an appar- 
ant standing in the courts, and as exi)edltiously as possible made his 
appearance on Penet Squai-e, became satisfied that it was valuable, and 
with proper management would in the not distant future, produce im- 
mense wealth. He found as there was no resident claimant or repre- 
sentative of any owner, squatters took advantage of the situation, 
located as they saw fit, bought and sold claims, cut the timber, con- 
verted it into staves, black-salts and potash, none of them having any 
title to the land, except the possession. This resulted from no knowl- 

11 



edge by them of the condition of the title to it, and because of the 
many claimants, none of whom could present any satisfactory evidence 
of their assertions, and subsequent abandonment, led to the belief that 
there was no legal owner of the tract, this induced large numbers, 
mostly of the poorer, thriftless and absconding classes from every- 
where, to come, select land and make locations as before stated. Very 
few permanent improvements were made, the inhabitants living mostly 
in log shanties roofed with hollow logs split in two equal parts, laid 
interlocking; dooi's and floors of puncheons, a glass window, however 
small, was a luxury; but they were a hardy race, just the class of 
people to subdue that wilderness. 

LaFarge comprehended the situation at once; he must become the 
absolute owner of this valuable territory; and for that purpose bought 
ifi all adverse claims possible. All who disputed his claims were sub- 
ject to the annoyance of ejectment suits, which at that time if con- 
tested resulted against his claims; but all who recognized his title and 
ownership and accepted his contracts for the lands they occupied and 
lived up to the conditions thereof, never had any trouble with him; in 
fact he is reputed to have been fair and honorable with these. In 
order to perfect his title LaParge allowed the whole tract to be sold 
for taxes by the State. It was bid in by him, and he obtained a Comp- 
troller's deed therefor, executed by William L. Marcy, as Comptroller, 
dated May i?>, 1S28. It has been asserted and believed that sharp work 
and fine plans were resorted to by LaFarge and the State officials to 
accomplish this result, which would have surprised the adroit and law- 
less Penet, and the grafters of later days. After this had been done 
LaFarge pursued and cruelly harrassed those settlers who had resisted 
his demands. He compelled them to pay for not only the land, but for 
all of the improvements they had made on it. supposing it to be their 
own; he was extoitionate and pursued them relentlessly, many were 
unable to meet these exactions, hurriedly left the town to avoid the 
debtors' prison; those who had property were stripped of it all to 
satisfy the judgments obtained against them; and upon the sales 
brought such prices as one pair of bulls $12, one pair of steers $,S, one 
heifer $3.50, eleven sheep $11, and other property at like prices. 

The title to the Square now recognized as settled, emigration became 
rapid, men who had fought in the Revolution with Herkimer at Orisk- 
any, and with Willets at Fort Stanwix, and participated in the making 
and first unfurling of the American flag on land, in the free and pure 
air of their own Mohawk Valley; men from the mountains of Vermont 
and New Hampshire, who served with John Stark at Bennington, and 
witnessed the surrender at Saratoga, with their families and descend- 
ants, were the principal settlers and pioneers, their names were and 
now are familiar here, honored and respected. 

LaFarge built, lived in and led a life of luxury, extortion and shame, 
in a fine mansion of chiseled limestone, at the head of Perch Lake on 
the extreme southern boundary of his domain, here he supposed he 

12 



was entirely free and unobserved from the prying eyes of an observant 
and busy world. Here he laid out a fine park with beautiful grounds 
and elegant private drives, making it a i)lace befitting an honorable and 
respectable French gentleman. But in his privacy he was hounded and 
watched by his persecuted victims. The whizzing of bullets made it 
so uncomfortable for him that after several years he abandoned this 
beautiful but polluted place of abode. It was occupied but little after, 
it was regarded as deadly as the Upas-Tree; it soon without inhabitants 
ran to rirtn, fell apart and into decay, so that now not one stone i-e- 
mains upon another to mark the place where it stood — it is a toft — the 
farmers have taken the stones for hog pens, stables and fences. 

He removed to LaFargeville. Here he built a land uflfice and a grist 
mill; at Moulton's Corners, about the center of this tract, he built a 
stone school house. 

During the years 18.30-32, I^aFarge constructed a large and elegant 
mansion one mile south of LeFargeville, near Moulton's Corners, which 
he designed to make the finest private residence in the State. After 
its completion with its surroundings, it was thus described by a noted 
journalist; "The main body of the house is fifty feet square and two 
stories high, with handsome French windows to relieve the great ex- 
panse of roof, making it ajipear three stories high. It is built of hewn 
l)locks of limestone, with battled walls, reaching high above the roof, 
terminating in four immense chimneys. On each end of the main ])art 
are large wings thirty feet square, of about half the height. A richly 
carved cornice ornaments the massive structure on the main part and 
wings. Great verandas ten feet wide and twelve feet high ornament 
the front. Through the massive entrance doors you enter a grand hall 
twelve feet wide, and extending through the entire width of the house, 
spanned by two elaborate arches resting on artistic carbels. In the 
rear of the hall is a heavy winding staircase, made of cherry and oali 
with hand carved ornamentations. The staircase is lighted by rear 
windows. On one side of the hall are double drawing rooms, finished 
in double architrave and fiuted hand carved wood. The entrance to 
these rooms is through massive doors which roll so easily, a child may 
open them. Over the doors heavy ornate friezes rest on Corinthian 
columns on each side. On the other side of the hall heavy doors open 
into a reception room connected with a library ornamented in the 
Bame manner. Stucco ornamental work i-elieves every angle of the 
walls and ceilings. The beautiful centerpieces are carved by hand. 
The house is surrounded by an extensive park with fountains, pools 
and flsh ponds, drives and flower beds filled with rare blooms; it is 
enclosed with cut stone capped and l)uttressed walls with graceful 
circles in which are hung large and small ornamental iron gates. A 
similar wall covered with slabs of cut stone, extended nearly a mile 
along the highway. The painting, decorating and frescoing In the 
mansion was done by an imported artist, skilled in that line of work. 
The fire places in the main rooms were built with mantels of fine 

13 



italian marble, equipped with tall brass andirons, with protectors of 
brass in front." Here, after its completion, LeFarge lived in luxury, 
surrounded by his retainers, mostly profligate Frenchmen. He was n-evei' 
received socially or recognized as an equal by the LeRays, Survilliers, 
Peugnet, Real or other better class of French people who came to this 
county; he was regarded as a pariah, for the reasons that in France 
he was a tradesman and in this county he was reputed as living a 
dishonest and immoral life: however that may be he was a man of 
strong personality, methodical business ways and indomitable perse- 
verance and courage, and has left his impress more firmly fixed upon 
his people than most of those who affected to despise him. 

Soon after the completion of this mansion, and after furnishing it 
with the most magnificent furniture, rare and costly works of art and 
embellished with all that wealth and refined taste could suggest; 
LaFarge mai-i-ied a very highly cultured lady of refinement, in the 
City of New York, and brought hei- to this magnificent and princely 
furnished mansion in the wilderness. Yet with all of these beautiful 
surroundings, the social conditions, status and environment were so 
distasteful to her refined nature, that she compelled him to leave the 
country and to remove to New York, in 1838, where he ended his days. 

After this LaFarge sold the mansion and farm to Bishop Dubois of 
the Roman Catholic Church, for a Seminary of that Church, and was 
there established under the name of the Seminary of St. Vincent de 
Paul, under the supervision of Father Francis Guth, of blessed memory, 
and several assistants, it was opened as a theological seminary and 
classical boarding school, but being so distant from the center of popu- 
lation, and so difficult of access, that after a struggle for three yeai's, 
was removed by Archbishop Hughes, who succeeded Bishop Dul)ois. 
upon his death, to Fordham, Westchester County, and became St. 
John's College, a prosperous and noted institution of leaining. After 
this the mansion and farm was occupied by a brother of the Arch- 
bishop — Patrick Hughes and family, as a home, his beautiful and ac- 
complished daughter. Miss Margaret, here became the wife of Eugene 
Kelly, the opulent and well 'Icnown banker of New York. Miss Hughes 
gave this home the name of "Grove Mount," her- corresi)ondence and 
favors bore that appellation. She died in New York, her home, leav- 
ing benefactions and charities to many institutions and worthy persons, 
who hold her name in grateful remembrance.' In after years, by mar- 
riage, death and removal, the Hughes people here became extinct, the 
old mansion tenantless, and for lack of care shabby, and exem])lified 
the old maxim, "A pile without inhabitant to ruin runs." 

By an act of the legislature of this state, i)assed April ',], 1821, the 
town of Orleans was created. It embraced all of Penet Square; it was 
an act of amnesty, restoration and pardon, and I might add of recon- 
struction. It declared, that all free male inhabitants in the town there- 
by created, shall be good and sufficient jurors in all courts within the 
County of Jefferson, in the same manner as if they were freeholders 

14 



in that town; that so ninch of the oath required by hiw to be taken 
by town officers, as to their being freeholders, may be omitted from 
the oaths to be taken by the town officers thereafter to be chosen in 
the said town of Orleans; thereby the highest rights of citizenship was 
conferred npon all free male inhabitants, within this territory, without 
reference to age, nationality, color or previous condition. As a lai'ge 
majority of the inhabitants of the new town were ineligible to office, 
or to the rights of a citizen, these unusual provisions were enacted to 
meet an emergency, that otlierwise could not be easily avoided. By 
a law enacted in 1829, all tliat part of the town of Orleans, lying east 
of Perch Lake, being but comparatively a few acres of the square, was 
annexed to Pamelia. Clayton was organized as a town by an act of 
the Legislature, passed April 27, 1833, and toolv from Orleans two- 
fifths of Penet's domain; so that this One Hundred Square Miles, 
embraced in three thriving towns of this county, with its remarkable 
history, the object of the greed and dishonesty, adroitness and rascality 
of its first owners, is now the equal and in many respects the superior 
of any rural territory of lilve size in the Nation, in the intelligence, 
enterprise and patriotism of its inhabitants; highly cultivated farms, 
thriving villages and happy homes; rich, fertile and inexhaustible soil, 
and the unsurpassed and well known quality of its products. 

Contrasting Penet Square of today with it one hundred years ago. 
l»resents a marvelous change in the most wonderful century of the 
world's history; the home of the squalid and despised "Peneter" has 
become the pride and admiration of the entire county; surely the stone 
the builders rejected, has become the key-stone of the arch. 

1 have marshalled my statements from a variety of sources, diplo- 
matic correspondence. Legislative enactments and suplications, his- 
torical sketches, private letters and correspondence, court records and 
recitals, Jesuit relations, fireside memories, romance and imagination. 

I present them to you on this occasion, as a fit part of the observance 
of the closing first century of the existance of a beloved county, for 
your inspection, review and criticism. A recital of the plots and 
schemes, industry and intelligence of a hundred sleeping years. 



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